Tridents win big at Kensington Oval, revive playoff hopes

Barbados Tridents kept their Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League playoff hopes alive with a commanding eight-wicket victory over St Lucia Kings at Kensington Oval on Sunday, ending a three-match losing streak and climbing back into contention despite remaining at the bottom of the standings.

Captain Chris Green described the performance as the team’s most well-balanced game of the tournament.

After being sent into bat, the Kings were restricted to 138 for six, as Player-of-the-Match Mujeeb Ur Rahman grabbed three wickets for 22 runs for the Tridents, while Daniel Sams took two for 20.

The Kings reached 51 for one at the end of the powerplay, but a lack of lasting partnerships ultimately cost them a chance of a more competitive total.

Opener Kamil Pooran top scored with 37 from 24 balls, while captain Roston Chase added 34 from 28 deliveries.

In their turn at the wicket, the Tridents also made a rapid start, reaching 46 for one at the end of the powerplay.

Brandon King was the first to be dismissed, having made 22 from 20 deliveries, before being caught and bowled by Chase in the fifth over.

Zachary Carter hit 32 from 22 balls and Rivaldo Clarke blossomed after a cautious start to finish unbeaten on 36 from 34 balls, while Quinton de Kock hammered an unbeaten 47 from 31 balls, including three fours and two sixes, to secure the win for the Tridents at 139 for two in the 18th over.

The Tridents skipper described the conditions as challenging.

“Fielding was tough out there for both sides. It was very wet with a lot of dew, and a lot of rain had fallen, so really proud of our efforts, and those two batting at the end, seeing us home, was fantastic,” he said.

Green also paid tribute to his bowlers. “Jakeem Pollard coming in these for the last two games, has impressed straight away as a youngster in his home conditions. I’ve been really impressed and proud of him, the way he’s gone about it and really stood up to that opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. 

“There’s a lot of senior players around this group, but the youngsters are the ones that are going to win us this tournament.”

Green was also happy with the crowd support.

“That noise at the end was fantastic, and the atmosphere last night [Saturday] was awesome. We’ve got three more games and, depending on results, if we win two of those, we’re qualified. If we win three, obviously we’re definitely in. 

“It’s one game at a time, and we look forward to our next opportunity.”

St Lucia Kings captain Roston Chase, says they fell short with the bat.

“I just thought that we were about 15-20 runs short. We were in a good position coming into the last five overs, and then we didn’t get that momentum in the end. 

“They got too many wickets in clumps at the end there, and we didn’t get too many wickets when they batted.”

(KH)